I didn't ride the 25 last week. The day before I had run Bushy parkrun and clocked 19:08. A very pleasing time considering I wasn't really going for it, but I think that was fairly conclusive proof that the new course with more tarmac underfoot, is a good 15-20 seconds faster than the old one. Unfortunately there was a downside in that my left calf and achilles took a hell of a beating as a result. Allied to that a load of work that had to be done and my head not in the right place meant I just didn't fancy it. So no running this week and my usual commute cycling, with a little bit of foam rolling, stretching and core work has been the order of the week.
On Monday evening I got out in a Llance again. It was very late and dark by the time I was able to actually get on the water, and again, I was just focussing on trying to get some good techniques going, attempting to remember everything that Bob taught me and Adam a few years ago with the main points trying to spear the water at my feet and getting a good rotation going. Thankfully the weather is very mild at the moment so no need for lots of warm clothing and the 40 minute paddle went by pretty quickly. I forgot how much nature you encounter on these night paddles. I think I must have seen a dozen bats, or maybe it was the same one orbiting my boat? They really are noisy, flappy things.
Last night Jamie and I met up for a paddle in a Condor which was good fun and our longest paddle so far at 47 minutes with our usual loop around Desborough Island. There was quite a bit of flow and the steering was a bit tricky with a sticky cable causing us to have to stop a few times, but even in spite of this we had the boat bouncing along nicely and our numbers are looking pretty good. Jamie is a bit of a machine and his technique is much better than mine. It's good for me to be able to be sat behind him as it really makes me focus on getting my catch and rotation correct. So lots more steady, short paddling for a few months while we build up our cores and ensure that we don't continue to fall to bits. Sounds like a plan.
Saturday, 25 April 2015
Sunday, 12 April 2015
Just don't call it a comeback
Park run yesterday morning. This time both Achilles decided to have a little grumble after I did a slow 30 minutes yesterday. I ran the first half with Wheezy junior to get warmed up a bit before pushing on to record a 21:15 for my 10th park run finish. I think I can now get my first Parkrun club t-shirt. :-) Good fun, although the weather decided to turn a bit grotty after the glorious sunshine we had earlier in the week.
On Thursday I got back into a K2 for the first time in 18 months or so; maybe longer? Jamie and I decided to meet up and have a little splash about for old times sake. At the boathouse we came across our old Discovery that we used in the 2010 race and it still had our race number on it. We contemplated taking it out as Jamie seemed to think I would have him in but we decided on a Condor instead. It was a beautiful morning, really warm and pleasant but we paddled no more than 2.5 miles over a 40 minute period. Blimey. And we've done this for 24 hours before? How did we do that? I was very sore at the end, my right shoulder was particularly feeling it. We stayed dry, had a bit of fun and ended up spending a lot longer chatting over a coffee. I have really noticed my lack of core strength recently and maybe a regular paddle now and again might be a good way of getting some of that back. We are going to try to meet up for a paddle more regularly and see if we can get our old bodies back into some kind of condition and if we have a decent summer then we can get a few miles under our belts.
Today was a lumpy 40 mile ride with Simon taking in Newlands, Coombe Bottom, Crocknorth and Pebble Hill. Felt pretty good. Steady if not spectacular It's a 25 TT next week which should give me a better indication of where my cycling is at the moment and if a sub 1 hour is doable in the next couple of months.
On Thursday I got back into a K2 for the first time in 18 months or so; maybe longer? Jamie and I decided to meet up and have a little splash about for old times sake. At the boathouse we came across our old Discovery that we used in the 2010 race and it still had our race number on it. We contemplated taking it out as Jamie seemed to think I would have him in but we decided on a Condor instead. It was a beautiful morning, really warm and pleasant but we paddled no more than 2.5 miles over a 40 minute period. Blimey. And we've done this for 24 hours before? How did we do that? I was very sore at the end, my right shoulder was particularly feeling it. We stayed dry, had a bit of fun and ended up spending a lot longer chatting over a coffee. I have really noticed my lack of core strength recently and maybe a regular paddle now and again might be a good way of getting some of that back. We are going to try to meet up for a paddle more regularly and see if we can get our old bodies back into some kind of condition and if we have a decent summer then we can get a few miles under our belts.
Today was a lumpy 40 mile ride with Simon taking in Newlands, Coombe Bottom, Crocknorth and Pebble Hill. Felt pretty good. Steady if not spectacular It's a 25 TT next week which should give me a better indication of where my cycling is at the moment and if a sub 1 hour is doable in the next couple of months.
Monday, 6 April 2015
Hot cross buns equals...
.....the DW.
It's always the case that at this time of year, my blog, which I estimate is read by about 4 people, gets a significant surge in traffic. The reason for this is down to the DW. I have to admit to getting fairly misty eyed about it myself and as I watch the tracker being updated, following the couple of crews that I am usually aware of, I have to admit to pangs of envy and the feeling that I would like to do it again. There is always a small flurry of texts or some Facebook banter between Jamie, Adam and myself, almost trying to goad each other into committing towards another year of training. Sometimes, I even get back into a kayak and do a paddle or two. I really would love to do it again one day. It still stands as the hardest and most rewarding thing I have done and while it is a cheesy line, it is true that anyone who finishes the DW is a winner.
My DW Race 2010
My DW Race 2011
My DW Race 2012
That said, I have been pretty busy doing other things. A lovely week walking in the Lakes was preceded by my 9th Park run (19:36). A solid run with no running in the two weeks before owing to a cold, but my left Achilles got very sore half way round, so I'm going to have to get stretching again and probably take it a little easy for a few weeks while it eases off.
On the same day I went with the Phoenix to the London Velodrome to have my first ever go at track riding. It was absolutely brilliant, made even more special by having Wheezy Junior having a go too. With 32 of us going it worked out at just over £10 each for an hour's riding, with coaching and including the hire of the Condor fixed wheel bikes. They split the group into two, basically those of the club who had ridden on a track before and those of us who had not. We were taken from doing basic laps around the cote (that's the blue band at the bottom of the track) and by the end of it most of us were circulating up round the top of the banking. It is very steep! I loved it and we are hopefully going back in the autumn so that we can progress through the levels. If you get a chance, then go.
So I got out for a gentle 50 miler yesterday while the sun started to shine; my first long bike ride in a few weeks. As ever, too late in trying to get some base bike miles in but the hills were not too painful and I spent a pleasant 3 hours in my own company. This week's going to be about getting a few more bike miles under my belt while the weather is pretty good and I am still on holibobs.
It's always the case that at this time of year, my blog, which I estimate is read by about 4 people, gets a significant surge in traffic. The reason for this is down to the DW. I have to admit to getting fairly misty eyed about it myself and as I watch the tracker being updated, following the couple of crews that I am usually aware of, I have to admit to pangs of envy and the feeling that I would like to do it again. There is always a small flurry of texts or some Facebook banter between Jamie, Adam and myself, almost trying to goad each other into committing towards another year of training. Sometimes, I even get back into a kayak and do a paddle or two. I really would love to do it again one day. It still stands as the hardest and most rewarding thing I have done and while it is a cheesy line, it is true that anyone who finishes the DW is a winner.
My DW Race 2010
My DW Race 2011
My DW Race 2012
That said, I have been pretty busy doing other things. A lovely week walking in the Lakes was preceded by my 9th Park run (19:36). A solid run with no running in the two weeks before owing to a cold, but my left Achilles got very sore half way round, so I'm going to have to get stretching again and probably take it a little easy for a few weeks while it eases off.
 |
| I felt fast; I was slow. |
So I got out for a gentle 50 miler yesterday while the sun started to shine; my first long bike ride in a few weeks. As ever, too late in trying to get some base bike miles in but the hills were not too painful and I spent a pleasant 3 hours in my own company. This week's going to be about getting a few more bike miles under my belt while the weather is pretty good and I am still on holibobs.
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